How Much Of Yourself Should You Share When You're Writing Your Book?

Happy Sunday y'all!

I'm lucky enough to spend a lot of time speaking to people like yourself, educators, artists, healers, and storytellers in the mind, body, and spirit healing space.

Hearing their stories, about the journeys they've traveled and the passion and purpose that drives them personally and professionally.

One question I hear all the time when we're talking about their book is "How much of myself should I share?"

Usually this comes up as authors debate with themselves whether:

...Their story is “worthy” of sharing in a book (even though they’ve helped spread healing, hope, and harmony in dozens or even hundreds of people’s lives)... 

...They have "enough" experience (in the course of sharing years—often decades!—of personal and professional wisdom with me :/)…

...And, of course, the million-dollar question that everyone who's ever considered penning their own legacy has asked….

**Drum Roll**

"What if I offend someone?"

It’s totally fine for these questions to echo in your head as you grapple with putting yourself all the way the f*ck out there. 

I get it. I’ve lived it. 

I’ve helped dozens of authors face the spotlight and take the leap. It’s a heck of a lot easier jumping from a plane when you have a good buddy or two around.

So, when my authors ask: 'How much should I share in my book?' my first question to them, and now to you, my dear reader, is:

How much of yourself do you share now?

...In your work? 

...In your life? 

...In your healing practice and modality with your supporters?

You were drawn to this business to be part of something real, to be your authentic self, to save a few folks some trials and tribulations, and share your hard-learned winning formulas to make their lives a little healthier, happier, and more hopeful. At peace with themselves. And you, with yourself.

Now you're looking to take it to the streets. Write a book (or perhaps another book). Your goal: To tell your story, bring healing and wisdom to a world that sorely needs it, and make your message more accessible to benefit more people than you can reach on your own.

Think of the book that impacted you the most...

How much did that author or character share? 

Why did it make such an impact on you?

I'm betting that story was never held back. 

It captured unspoken thoughts, secret hopes, or the midnight worries that take over late at night while your partner sleeps peacefully in a puddle of drool. 

It inspired you, laid out a path to fulfillment, brought new determination to your life.

Or maybe you found catharsis from shame and loneliness in reading about experiences and feelings that admitting to yourself, much less anyone else, made you want to curl up and hide.

So the real questions now become:

...What's the impact you want your book to have?

...How much of yourself and your story needs to be shared to have that impact? 

...How much of yourself is dying to finally be let out? Speak your truth authentically, unapologetically?

You don’t owe it to anyone to share things you’re not ready to share.

But you also don’t owe it to anyone to hold back.

If you’re still reading this, you're ready to share. 

As for how much... I'll tell you what I tell my authors.

Take a few moments now and just sit with yourself in silence. Just 10-15 seconds. It’s uncomfortable, I know. I’ll count with you. 1 Mississippi...2 Mississippi… 

Now ask yourself:

How much of yourself do you want to share with the world?

How much do you know you need to share to realize your purpose?

Cole Schafer, a writer that I’m proud to call a friend, once said, “We can't truly live until we've faced the very thing that scares us most.”

So if sharing feels scary, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) roaring in your head, if they are keeping you from making an impact, claiming your greatness, living your purpose, there's only one thing to be done.

Let the tigers through the fucking door. 

We're here to help to wrangle them.

Love,

Certified Tiger Handler / Extractor / CEO / Co-Founder at Reaching & Rooted Publishing

*  https://www.coleschafer.com/product/let-the-tigers-through-the-door